4K Ultra HD Review – Spawn (1997)

      Spawn, 1997.

      Directed by Mark A.Z. Dippé.

      Featuring Michael Jai White, John Leguizamo, Martin Sheen, Theresa Randle, Melinda Clarke, Miko Hughes, Nicol Williamson, and D.B. Sweeney.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A mercenary working for the CIA is betrayed and killed, only to return to Earth as a soldier of the Devil. It might surprise some that there was a time in the late 1990s when superhero films weren't the sure bets they are now. Much of the blame could be placed on Joel Schumacher for his campy version of Batman that followed Tim Burton's darker portrayal, but the major studios also seemed uncertain about the direction of high-budget superhero action.

      Before Blade and X-Men revitalized the genre, there was Spawn, which follows CIA mercenary Al Simmons (Michael Jai White) as he is sent to infiltrate a North Korean bioweapons facility under the orders of his superior, Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen). However, after expressing his ethical concerns regarding his mission, Simmons is killed by Wynn and his top assassin, Jessica Priest (Melinda Clarke). His scorched body ends up in Hell, where dark forces offer him a chance to return to life – if he leads an army against the forces of good, he can reunite with his wife and family.

      Reluctantly accepting the deal, Simmons returns to Earth five years later as Spawn, discovering that his wife Wanda (Theresa Randle) has married his best friend Terry (D.B. Sweeney). He encounters Clown (John Leguizamo), a Hell agent meant to assist him, unaware that Clown is aligned with Wynn, who has become a major arms dealer. Meanwhile, a Heaven agent named Cogliostro (Nicol Williamson) is also present to help Spawn harness his newfound abilities, oblivious to Clown's schemes involving both him and Wynn, while Terry possesses crucial information about Wynn that could interest many, resulting in Wynn's desperate kidnapping of Spawn's family for world control.

      The plot is convoluted and messy, with characters betraying one another, deals being struck, and an array of late-'90s CGI effects that, while impressive for their time, don't quite mask the fact that this adaptation of Todd McFarlane's comic lacks coherence and relies heavily on superhero movie clichés to make sense of the story. As an origin tale, we receive a brief introduction to Al Simmons' family in a scene lasting only about 30 seconds, and thereafter, Wanda's name is mentioned excessively, indicating her future significance as a target for the villain. But who truly is the antagonist here?

      Wynn is the apparent primary villain, being the first traitor and employing the skilled Jessica Priest (great name). Martin Sheen's portrayal is delightfully eerie, though he was not a typical choice for a lead villain at this stage in his career, suggesting he may not be the most formidable foe.

      Clown is another likely suspect, displaying clear malevolence, crude humor, and the ability to morph into a gigantic demon when he desires, making his interactions with others feel inherently untrustworthy. He serves the Devil, who represents the ultimate villain, even though an epic clash between Heaven and Hell never materializes – but Clown does possess the knowledge Spawn needs for his mission.

      Does that make Spawn himself evil? He works for the Devil, albeit reluctantly. Al Simmons occasionally exhibits his moral compass, which sometimes seems to fade from the narrative, depending on the script's requirements. Although Simmons was fundamentally good as a human, should we be rooting for him? Spawn isn't a typical hero, and whether he qualifies as an antihero is debatable, as the script lacks depth for such character exploration.

      Ultimately, Spawn the film is an origin story for Spawn the character, who is a soldier of Hell seeking to reunite with his human wife and daughter before avenging those who have wronged him and leading Hell's armies against God. However, this climactic battle never occurs, as superhero films in 1997 were unlikely to go that far, leaving us with a simplistic revenge narrative populated by too many characters and lacking structure. Whether a sequel might have explored a conflict with angels remains unknown, since the film underperformed upon its release.

      Nonetheless, Arrow Video's 4K UHD remaster is impressive, with many of the primitive CGI effects appearing bright and sharp in HDR; however, some graphics, such as the opening credits and scenes in Hell, resemble low-quality video game cutscenes, though they display smooth movement and sharpness when contrasted with subsequent effects-heavy films. The soundtrack is also noteworthy, featuring collaborations from the likes of Korn & The Dust Brothers, Marilyn Manson & Sneaker Pimps, Henry Rollins & Goldie, and Metallica & DJ Spooky. When paired with the CGI, it presents a snapshot of 1997 that might confuse those under